Golf club cart



June 27, HANEY GOLF CLUB CART Filed Dec. 10, 1946 l5 Inventor V. B. HA/VEY E fin fa wuqa Attorneys Patented June 27, 1950 UNITED, STATES PATENT, OFFICE GOLF CLUB CART Virgil B. Haney, Corpus Christi, Tex. Application December 10, 1946, Serial No. 715,283

, 9 Claims. .1 c

This inventionrelates to a golf club cart or wheeled carrier for golf clubs, which takes the place of the conventional golf bag, relieving the golfer of the weight and encumbrance of the bag so that, if desired, .he may dispense with a caddie and transport his clubs himself over the .link without fatigue. It has other advantages,

such as protection of the clubs from being banged against one another as in a bag, permits ready selection and replacement of the clubs, provides a convenient receptacle for balls and tees at a height which avoids stooping, and can be reduced in size .for convenientstowing in a locker.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a golf club cart whichmay be trundled ,eitherby pushingv or pulling, and when at rest in its erect position, has. a three point base of support in which the center of gravity is well within the area of the supportingbase, and low down, by virtue of the weight of the heads of the irons, giving great stability to the cart so that clubs may be removed or replaced without the risk ofupsetting the cart.

Another objectOf the invention is the provision of a golf clubcarthaving a bodyreceptacle or tray adjacent its lower end, with individual compartments for the heads of the irons, dis- ,posed in tilted position when the cart is in its stable erect position, having holes in the front walls of said'compartments, permitting drainage of rainwater, and also serving as outlets for ridding the compartments of grass or dirt which may be dropped from the irons.

Another object of the invention is to provide a golf club cart having a longitudinal frame carrying the wheels and the body receptacle at its lower end and a ball and tee compartment at its upper end,"said compartment being carried at such height when the cart is in erect position, as to give access thereto without the necessity of stooping.

A further object of the invention is to provide a golf club cart in which the intermediate portion-of the frame is formed as a narrow strut, carrying a handle close to the center of gravity, whereby the cart may be carried in approximately balanced position without the frame interfering with the locomotion of the bearer.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a golf club' cart in which" the frame is provided with a handle employed when trundling the cart, hinged to the narrow strut portion of the frame and foldable thereagainst when not in use, the carrying handle being formed of spaced longitudinal halves forming a clamp within which the trundling handle is held when in folded down position.

v Still another object of the invention is to provide a golf clubcart in which the wheels may be pushed to a position of minimum spacing for reducing the overallwidth of the cart in adapting it to fit into a locker. r Other objects of the invention will appear as the following description of a preferred and practical embodiment thereof proceeds.

In the drawing throughout the several figures of which the same reference characters have been employed to eno e identical parts:

,Figure 1 is aside elevation of the golf club cart, partly in section;

Figure ,2 is a front elevation viewing Figure 1 ron the left, the golf clubs being omitted;

Figure 3 isv a plan view of the body receptacle, partly in section;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary detailview partly in elevation, partly insection of one of the adjustable axle sections. i v

Referring nowin detail to the several figures, the numeral l refers to the frame. of. the golf club cart as va whole, which in the illustrated embodiment, is formed ofa pair of symmetrically juxtaposed metallic members 2 and 3, expanded into a yoke 4 at the lower end, and expanded into a smaller yoke 5 at the upper end, the intermediate portions of said members 2and 3 extending sideby. side in parallelrectilinear..relation and slightly spaced apart, forming a narrow strut.

The body receptacle 6 of the cart comprises a shallow rectangular box, to the sides 1 and 8 of which the side membersof the yoke 4 are secured in any suitable manner, screws 9 being employed in theillustrative example. Theframe I is secured to the body receptacle in a slightly inclined position with respect to a, perpendicular. transverse plane through said receptacle.

To the bottom of the body receptacle 6 the elongated guide lugs l0 and II are secured, having cylindrical bores through which axle sections l2 and I 3 slidably fit. Vehicle wheels I4 are journaled on the outer ends of the axle sections. It will be noted, particularly from Figure L'that the lugs l0 and H and the axle sections are not under the center of the body receptacle, but displaced toward one edge thereof. At the opposite edge is a ground engaging supporting foot I5, arranged atthe middle of the forward edge of the body receptacle, as shown in Figure 2, and slidable in 'a front to rear direction through 3 a keeper l6, secured to the bottom of the body receptacle. The sliding foot l5 has a downturned rear end I! which retains it within the keeper.

The wheels and the foot constitute a three point base of support, and the height dimension of the foot I 5 relative to the radius of the wheels I4 is such that when the cart i placed in its erect position shown in-Figure 1, the-body receptacle fi i utilteii v forwardly witlithecenter of gravity of the cart well within the area of the base of support. It will be noted from Figure-,1

that the heads of the irons rest in the body re- 7.

ceptacle within the area of the base of support:

Their weight causessthe center of gravity to be; very low, imparting great stability to the golf cart when in erect position, so that it will not be readily upset even by careless use in removingor replacing the clubs.

- Figure 3, in particular, shows that the forward part of. the body redeptacl' 'is divided by" part? tions l8 into a plurality of side by side. compartments .18, for thevindivid'ual' reception of the headsgo'ffthe sever-a1 irons, and to assurexthat the irons will'be arranged'indefinite-order to permit readyfselection, the width of the" several compartments is varied to suit the shape 'of' the heads of the difierent irons} i v V The f6 ardporti'on of the bodyreceptade-is providedwitha ledgev 2 1 overlying the forward ends'ofthe compartments 'IE to prevent'the irons being jarred m position, when the-cart- ,is trundled o'ver rough g'roundg'and the for-ward ends of .said compartments are open, being. provided with the holes 2 I, terminating'a't the level of the bottomsof said compartments; and being sumciently' small 'to preventthe heads of the irons frompassing. through them. These-holes permit drainage of water from the compartments-should the game be played in the rain, and also form openings to facilitateridding the compartments from dirt or grass which maybe droppedfrom'the heads of the irons. I

Figure 3' shows that the body compartment is provided with an intermediate transverse partition" 22; forminglthe back ends of the compartments [9. Other. partitions 23 are provided, di-

viding the rear portion-- of the body receptacle into alpluralityof compartments 24, which. are to- 7 receive theends of the shafts of the woods, which areplac'ed'in inverted position the cart.

The up er or smaller yoke 5 of the frame is outwardly spread into transverse extensions 25,

affording a transverse support, to which-theball and'i tee" compartment 26 is" secured. This com- .partinent is a hox,.thelengthof' which preferably does not'exceedthat'of the body receptacle 6, being .siimciently deepand wide. to conveniently hold a plurality of golf balls, andis carried atsuch height as to prevent -stooping when selectin'ga ball. The forwardsi'de of the ball and-tee compartment is provided with a plurality of spring clips 27, adapted to yieldingfly receive and retain the shafts of the; irons These clipsare 7 preferably arranged inistaggered relation in two rows, to givemore room and thus facilitate the placinglof the clubs insaid'clipsr i 1 Onthe opposite side the ball and tee compartmentisprovidedrwith a-row ofsimilar clips-'28, to receive-theshaf-ts-of the; woods.

Atone end the ball and tee-compartment is overlain byl entee plate-ziii suitably secured thereto, having: a plurality of perforations, each frictionally ;receivin g-the stem; ofa tee 30:

A long handle 32 employed in trundling the golf club cart, is hingedly mounted near the upper end of the narrow or strut portion of the frame I, by means of an angular hinge 33, which as shown, is mounted between the spaced parallel rectilinear portions of the juxtaposed frame members 2 and 3. The handle 32 is thicker widthwise than the hinge, so that the juncture 34, between the handle and hinge, forms a stop against the f rame, asshown in- Figure 1, limiting further upward swingz of the handle. As shown, the handle and hinge are an integral construction. When not in use, the handle folds downwardly against the frame, as is indicated in Figure 2.

For convenient carrying of the golf club cart, it is provided with a carrying handle 35, secured to the strut'portion of the frame, at a point sufii- 'cientl-y close to the center of gravity of the handle 32. The

loaded golf club cart to approximately balance the weight of the cart when carried. As shown, the handle 35 is formed of two similar members stand 31,- congruenu arranged; secures r spectively to the: uxtaposed frame members, 2 and 3, apart. thetrundlihg ha'fid1e32 db'w'n positionjit lies' between the and below the open loops 39, through which the handle extends whenglrryin'g the cart; Preferably, the trundling'handle 3Z fits fr'i nonaiiy hetween the handle parts- 3 6" and 3'1, 's'o thatthe latteract as a clamp in'holding the clined relation of the spread port'io'n'siof' the frame; members which form the yoke prevent-int rference of the yoke 4 with the loco'ino'tion' ofthe person when carrying the cart.

is i rice'it desirable to .requcethe overall size of he cart as much" as possiblaf r stowing' it in a; locker, this is in part don'e by folding the trundl'irig' handle 32 down, as indicated in Figure Further reduction is accomplished bypushmg "the sliding' fopftf F5. The overall width dirioen on isf"re'duce'd by pushing in the wheels 14 towns broken li'rie "posit ion's hown in Figure 2, in which the wheelsre ta'g'ainst the cart; Figured shows thatthe"axlesections H and l 2,. are each formed with sp'aced peripher al hanne1s..40 and-41', thei'formerirepresenting the outmost extension of the axle section's, andthe latter the tionsfrornsaidlugs; I v

While I have in the above description disclosed what I believe -tobea preferred -and -practical embodiment of the invention it will be understoodby those skilled; in-the artthat the specific details; of construotion and arrangement of parts,- as shown; are by; way of-illustration and not to be construed- -aslimi-tingthe scope of; the invention. I

What I claimas my" invention is:

-1. Golfclub' cart comprising "a body formed as a receptacle for/the heads of the irons; a narrow frame extending upwardly from said bod'y, means'on said-frame remote froi'rr said body for holding-the shaftsof the irons;- ai pa-ir of spaced vehicle wheels supporting said body adjacent the said foot with respect to theradius of said wheels being such as to support said body in forwardly inclined position withthe center of gravityv of .said cart within the area of said base;'of support,

an elongated trundling handle hingedly secured to said narrow frame, foldable downwardly thereagainst, and a carrying handle on said frame adjacent the center of gravity of said cart, formed of laterally spaced congruently disposed parts having. congruent hand holes, said trundling handle when in downfolded position extending between said parts with said hand holes extending above said trundling handle.

2. Golf club cart comprising a shallow box-like body having a plurality of partitions dividing its tforward portion into aptransverse row of compartments for receiving the heads of the irons, a narrow frame extending upwardly from said body, means on said frame remote from said body for holding the shafts of the irons, a pair of spaced wheels supporting said body adjacent its rear end,

.a ground-engaging foot for supporting said body at the front end forming with said vehicle wheels a base of support, the height ofsaid foot with respect to the radius of said wheels being such as to support said body in forwardly inclined position with the center of gravity of said cart within the area of said base of support, the front ends of said "compartments being formed with holes extending .to the bottoms of said compartments, an elongated trundling handle-hingedly secured to 'saidnarrow frame, foldable downwardly thereagainst, and a carrying handle on said frame adjacent the center of gravityof said cart, formed of laterally spaced congruently disposed parts having congruent hand holes, said trundlin handle when in downfolded position'extending between said parts with said hand holes extending above said trundling handle.

3. Golf club cart comprising a shallow box-like body having a plurality of partitions dividing its forward portion into a transverse row of com-' partments for receiving the heads of the irons, said compartments being of different widths corresponding respectively to the widths of the heads of particular irons, a narrow frame extending upwardly from said body, means on said frame remote from said body for holding the shafts of the irons, a pair of spaced wheels supporting said body adjacent its rear end, a ground-engaging foot for supporting said body at the front end forming with said vehicle wheels a base of support, the height of said foot with respect to the radius of said wheels being such as to support said body in forwardly inclined position with the center of gravity of said cart within the area of said base of support, the front ends of said compartments being formed with holes extending to the bottoms of said compartments, an elongated trundling handle hingedly secured to said narrow frame, foldable downwardly thereagainst, and a carrying handle on said frame adjacent the center of gravity of said cart, formed of laterally spaced congruently disposed parts having congruent hand holes, said trundling handle when in I respect to the radius of'said wheels being such as to support said body in forwardly inclined position with the center of gravity of said cart within the area of said base of support, spaced coaxial axle sections slidably mounted beneath said body, each carrying one of the vehicle wheels permitting a range of width spacing of said wheels, means for holding said axle sections in alternative positions of wideand narrow spacing 'positions of said wheels, an elongated trundling'handle hingedly, secured to said frame, foldable downwardly thereagainst, and a carrying handle on said frame adjacent the center of gravity of saidcart, formed of laterall spaced congruently disposed parts having congruent hand holes, said trundling handle when in downfolded position extending between the parts of said carrying handle with said hand holes extending above said trundling handle. 3 a

5 Golf club cart comprising a frame having a narrow intermediate portion expanded:- at its upper and lower ends to form-yokes, a body formed as a receptacle for'the ends of golf clubs,

wheels supporting said cartadjacent the rear of said body, an elongated trundling handle for pushing and pullingsaid cart, hingedly'secured to the intermediate portion of said frame and foldable downwardly to a position thereagainst, said trundling handle being formed with a stop engageable with said frameto limit the extent of upward swingof said handle, and a carrying handle on said intermediate portion adjacent the center of gravity of said cart, formed of laterally spaced congruently disposed parts having congruent hand holes, said trundling handle when in downfolded position extending between said parts with said hand holes extending above said trundling handle.

6. Golf club cart comprising a frame having a narrow intermediate portion expanded at its upper and lower ends to form yokes, a body formed as a receptacle for the ends of golf clubs, embraced between the sides of the lower yoke and secured thereto, a box for golf balls securedto the sides of the upper yoke, clips on the outside of said box for receiving and holding the shafts of the golf clubs, a pair of spaced vehicle wheels supporting said cart adjacent the rear of said body, an elongated trundling handle for pushing and pulling said cart, hingedly secured to the intermediate portion of said frame and foldable downwardly to a position thereagainst, and a carrying handle on the intermediate portion of said frame adjacent the center of gravity of said cart, formed of spaced congruently disposed parts, said trundling handle when in down-folded position extending between the parts of said carrying handle.

'7. Golf club cart comprising a, frame having a narrow longitudinal middle portion and a lower bifurcated portion, a body embraced within the sides of said bifurcated portion and secured thereto, said body being formed as a box with partitions dividing it into. a, forward transverse row dt hem partme r01 er and a rearward trdii' erse 'row' of eempartmeiits for or thes hafts of the Woods; a box for "golf halls secured tdtlie" u per part f said frame a doliblerow of "clips on the fdrward side fdr receivilngafid Holdifig the sh'a'fts of the ir'on's, a';nd Clips' 6n the-rear side for receiving and holdingthe shaftspf the \ivo'ods near the heads, the in the rows 6n the forward side being in staggered-Elation, 6f spaced- Vertical wheel's Sfippdrting said cart adjacent the rear of said libd'y'a'n elbhg'atedtrulid ling handle for: pushing and pulling said dartfiingdly secured to the hit'erliiediate portion of saidtraineand foldable downwardly tea pdsitien fihereaganisf; arid the carrying handle en-said middle pci'rtioh adjacent thec'enter of "gravity of said cart formed df late'rally' spaced ong' rf1en-tly"disp0sed parts having congruent han'd; holes", 's'aid' trundlin'g "handle when d'ownfol'ded' .pdsi tien extending between said parts with said hand holes; extendihg' above body, an elongated trundl'in'g handle for pushing i and; pulling' sai'd cart, hinged-1y secured to the intermediate portion of s aid frame and fol'dabl'e downwardly toa position thereagains't, and a car- T-yih'g handle 011' 'said mteit'mdiit'e" D'Oftifih adjacent the 'center'of gravity of said cart, formed of lateral-1y spaced. ongruently dispo'edparts having "congruent hand holes,- said trurij'dliflg' Handle Whe'i'l 9. Golf club" ca'irtcofnprisinga frame having a. narrow-intermediate portion expandedat its up per. and lower ends to forni yokes, a body for-"med aisa) receptacle for tlfe'hea'ds ofgolf tilubiesech red toxth sids' of the Tower yok'ey'a box fdr goif balls gated truncl'ling handle' hingedly secured w the intermediate portion ofsaid frame between said yokes and adj acent the upper yoke', foldazble'dbvsfnwar'dly against said intermediate portion, and a carrying handle on said ifiterme'diate'portion adj'a'cent the center of gravity of said lcart; formed of laterally spaced congruentfi disposed parts Having congruent hand holes, said trdhdiling Handle when in down fold'ed' 'po'sition nesting between 'bhe'parts of said carrying handle; with 'd hand holes extending above said trufidlirl'g handl'e'u a VIRGIL B; REFERENCES Gil ED The renewing references are of reeo'fci iii the r 1,287,200 Botsford --Dec. 10,1918 1,581,061 Johnston- Ap'r'. 1:3 1926 1,707,186 Chatfiei'd Mar'.-26; 1929 2,044,363 Morse et a1 June 16, 1936 2,124,265 Smnott July 19,- 1 938 2,131,673 Robinson h Se15t227,-19-38 '2;262;298' Procter Nd'v. 11-, 1941 2,392,926 Kelly Jan. 15; 1946 2,406,183 Allen Aug. 20; 1946 2,415,392 Morehouse 1 Feb; 4,1947 

